Neutral lock and latch fob



Oct. 6, 1936. A. F. FOEHRENBACH ET AL 2,056,780

NEUTRAL LOCK AND LATCH FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I1 T 11 M Imventors Q RANJOM EJI-UUP E'.

- 8g CHARLES/XDOURQU/A/ JAMUEL R. 3/1001- 3 IIIEIIIII I (Itforneg Oct.6, 1936. A. F. FOEHRENBACH ET AL 2,055,780

NEUTRAL LOCK AND LATCH FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1935 2snee'ts-shet 2 lllllllllllllllll llL Zmventora ARTHUR E FOEHREA/BACHRAA/JOM SHOUP CHARI. EJ/ZEOURQU/A/ s JAMUEL R .SHOl/P (Ittomeg PatentedOct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEUTRAL LOCK AND LATCH FORVOTING MACHINES Application January 14, 1935, Serial No. 1,654

6 Claims.

This invention relates to voting machines and more specifically to apower transmission coupling therefor.

In the construction of a power actuated voting machine it is essentialto provide mechanism to effect the release of the power driving unit andto provide a connection for the hand operated drive which willaccommodate the ready conversion of the driving medium under unforeseenexigencies, for example, a failure in the supply of electric currentduring the period in which the votes are being polled.

It is also desirable in the construction of the machine to position thedriving connection so that adjustment thereof may be effected withoutaccess to the interior of the machine as a presumption of fraud wouldobtain if the vote recording mechanism were exposed during election.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a power transmissionlatch, or connecting member, which, when adjusted will release the powerdriving mechanism and eifect the operative engagement of the handoperated control members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling member which isorganized for operative adjustment within a portion of the machineremote from the vote recording mechanism.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a coupling comprising aunitary member which is sturdy of structure, durable and economic ofmanufacture.

Other objects more or less ancillary of the foregoing and the manner inwhich all the various objects are realized will appear in the followingdescription which, considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated-- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional viewthrough a fragmentary portion of the base of the voting machineillustrating the election oii'icers control knob, the latch embodied inthe present invention and the actuating mechanism coordinated therewith.I

Figure 2 is a vertical section through similar fragmentary portion ofthe voting machine housing illustrating the oflicers control knob, thelatch, the driving mechanism and its appurtenances.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2, thevoting machine housing being omitted and the latch being shownpositioned to effect the disengagement of the electric motor drive.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 3, thelatch being indicated in position to effect the electric motor drive.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4,the latch being indicated in disengaged position.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on a plane indicated online 6-6 in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on a plane indicated bythe line 7-! in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on a plane indicated by the line88 in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1 and 2, the votingmachine actuating mechanism embodies a reciprocative drive plate IE1having a pair of racks H and I2 mounted thereon. The toothed portions ofthe racks are spaced to provide clearance for the perimeter of a spurgear I3 which is disposed intermediate the racks and mounted forvertical adjustment so that engagement thereof may be effected witheither of the racks. The driving plate I!) is guided upon flangedrollers 14 mounted upon a frame member supported within the votingmachine housing IS. The spur gear I3 is mounted upon a shaft l6 coupledthrough universal joints, not shown, to an electric motor. The shaft [6extends within an inclined opening or guideway ll formed in a cam platel8 longitudinally guided by a bracket I9 mounted upon the base 20 of thevoting machine cabinet I5. The cam plate i8 is sustained by tensionsprings 2| mounted upon bell cranks 22 pivotally supported upon a slidein the form of an angle iron 23 mounted for reciprocative movement uponbrackets 24 secured upon the base 20 of the voting machine cabinet. Thelower arms 25 of the bell cranks 22 engage the base of the angle iron 23and thus restrain the upper arms of the cranks from movement inwardly.

As illustrated in Figure 6 the slide or angle iron 23 is mountedparallel and in spaced relation with a second slide also in the form ofan angle iron 26, the lateral flange of the angle iron 26 being aboveand opposed to the base flange of the angle iron 23. Intermediate thevertical flanges of the angle irons 23 and 26 there is a latch 2'!having a pivot pin 28 rigidly afiixed thereto. The outer portion of thepin 28 is provided with an enlarged head 29 diametrically grooved toreceive a tongue formed in the portion of a strap spring 30 which issupported upon the vertical leg of the angle iron 23. The shank of thepin 28 is suitably journalled in an aperture 3! in the angle iron 23 topermit the oscillatory movement of the latch. The free end of the latchplate 2? is formed with an arcuate slot 32, the radius thereof beingstruck from the center of the pin 28. The slot 32 is adapted forengagement with a latch pin or pintle 34 which extends through a slot 35formed in the vertical leg of the angle iron 23.

of the angle iron 26 and a similar slot 36 in the flange of the angleiron 23. Within these slots there is a relatively stationary combinedlatch pin and anchor bolt 31 mounted in the angle clip 2 adjacentthereto. The bolt is provided to support the two angle irons in theirassembled relation and at the same time facilitates the reciprocativemovement thereof. The rearward face of the latch 27 is provided with anarcuate slot 33 described from the center of the pin 28. The slot 33 isarranged for engagement with the shank of the bolt 37 when the latch ispivotally adjusted to efiect such connection. The outer end of the angleiron 26 is connected'with the ofiicers control knob 38, which, asillustrated in Figure 1, is mounted upon a push rod extending through anaperture 39 in the housing l5.

Above the oflicers control knob 38 there is an opening 30 having 'acover plate H thereover which is hinged upon the housing l and providedwith a suitable key controlled door look.

In operation, assuming the electric motor drive to be coupled to efiectthe operation of the machine, the latch 27 is positioned as indicated inFigure 2 with the slot 32 therein engaged with the pintle 34. In thisposition the latch interlocks the angle irons 23 and 26 so thatreciprocative adjustment of the ofiicers control knob 38 will efiectmovement of the angle iron 23 and the consequent adjustment of the camplate l8 through the spring 2i thus causing the elevation or loweredadjustment of the spur gear l3 and the intermeshed engagement thereofwith the respective racks H and [2. During the voting cycle the rotationof the pinion l3 will cause the translation of the rack ll until thepinion runs beyond the teeth at the end portion of the rack. Thereuponthe election oificer presses the control knob 38 inwardly so that thecam plate I8 will cause the gear It to engage the rack 12 to effect thereturn of the plate and thus complete the voting cycle.

The pivotal support of the bell cranks 22 will prevent either of theuntensioned springs, during this operation, from arresting movement ofthe cam plate i8 as the upper arms of the cranks will yield to thethrust of the collapsed spring when pressure is applied thereto. 7

In the event the electric current should fail or if for some otherreason it is desired to couple the machine for hand operation, theelection officers unlock the door 4| and. adjust the latch 21 inengagement with the bolt 31, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. During suchadjustment the angle iron 26 will be disengaged from the angle iron 23,thereby releasing the ofiicers control knob 38 from operative control ofthe motor driving mechanism. When the latch is adjusted upon the bolt 37the angle iron 23 is shifted to a position where the pinion l3 will bedisengaged with both the racks H and I2, as illustrated in Figure 3,thus releasing the electric motor driving connection. V

7 Although the ioregoing description is neces- Rearward the pin 28 thereis a second slot 36a. formed in the vertical flange sarily of a detailedcharacter, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, itis to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts andmodifications of structural detail may be resorted to without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

We claim:

1. In a drive mechanism for voting and like machines, means for shiftinga movably mounted drive pinion into and out of operative engagement withspaced driven gear members, comprising: a shiftable guide member havingan operative connection with said pinion, a manually reciprocable slide,a second slide disposed adjacent said first-named slide and having anoperative connection with said guide member, and a latch member adaptedwhen in one of its latching positions to connect said slides to oneanother whereby the guide member may be manually actuated through themedium of said slides to shift the drive pinion into selective drivingengagement with said gear members and when in another of its latchingpositions to disconnect said slides and at the same time hold thesecondnamed slide and guide member in a position which will maintain thedrive pinion in neutral.

2. In drive mechanism for voting and like machines, means for shifting amovably mounted drive pinion into and out of operative engagement withspaced driven gear members, comprising: a shiftable guide plate havingan operative connection with said pinion, a reciprocable slide having amanually operated push rod connected thereto, a second slide disposedadjacent said first-named slide and having an operative connection withsaid guide plate, and a latch member pivotally mounted on one of saidslides and adapted when oscillated to one of its latching positions toconnect said slides to one another whereby the guide plate may beactuated through the medium of said push rod to shift the drive pinioninto selective driving engagement with said gear members and whenoscillated to another of its latching positions to disconnect saidslides and at the same time hold the secondnamed slide and guide platein a position which will maintain the drive pinion in neutral.

3. In drive mechanism for voting and like machines, means for shifting amovably mounted drive pinion into and'out of operative engagement withspaced driven gear members, comprising: a shiftable guide plate havingan operative connection with said pinion, a reciprocable slide having amanually operable push rod connected thereto, a second slide disposedadjacent said first-named slide and having an op erative connection withsaid guide plate, a latch member pivotally connected to one of saidslides and formed with arcuate latching slots therein, a. latch pinsecured to one of said slides on one side of said latch member andprojecting through a slot in the other slide, a relatively stationarypin on the opposite side of said latch member, said latch member whenoscillated into latching engagement with said first-named pinfunctioning to connect said slides to one another to move in unisonwhereby the guide plate may be manually actuated through the medium ofsaid push rod to shift the drive pinion into selective drivingengagement with said'gear members and. when oscillated to its reverseposition into engagement with said second-named pin functioning todisconnect said slides and at the same time hold the second-named slideand guide plate in a position which will maintain the drive pin inneutral.

4. In drive mechanism for voting and like machines, means for shifting amovably mounted drive pinion into and out of operative engagement withspaced driven gear members, comprising: a shiftable guide plate havingan operative connection with said pinion, a reciprocable slide having amanually operable push rod connected thereto, a second slide mountedadjacent to and parallel with said first-named slide and having anoperative connection with said guide plate, a latch pivotally connectedto one of said slides and formed with arcuate latching slots therein, alatch pin secured to one of said slides on one side of the pivot pointof said latch and projecting through a slot in the other slide, arelatively stationary combined latch pin and anchor bolt mounted on theopposite side of the pivot point of said latch member and projectingthrough slots formed in said slides, said latch when oscillated intolatching engagement with said latch pin functioning to connect saidslides to one another to move in unison whereby the guide plate may bemanually actuated through the medium of said push rod to shift the drivepinion into selective driving engagement with said gear members and whenoscillated to its reverse position into engagement with said combinedlatch pin and anchor bolt functioning to disconnect said slides and atthe same time hold the second-named slide and guide plate in a positionwhich will maintain the drive pinion in neutral.

5. In a drive mechanism for voting and like machines, means for shiftinga movably mounted drive pinion into and out of operative engagement withspaced rack bars, comprising: a reciprocable guide plate having anoperative connection with said pinion, a pair of reciprocable slides,one of said slides being connected with said guide plate and the otherof said slides having a manually operable push rod connected thereto, anarcuate slotted latch plate pivoted to one of said slides, a latch pinconnected to one of said slides on one side of the pivotal connection ofsaid latch plate and a combined anchor bolt and latch pin mounted on theother side of said pivotal connection and projecting through slotsformed in said slides, said latch plate when oscillated into latchingengagement with said latch pin functioning to connect said slides to oneanother to move in unison whereby the guide plate may be manuallyreciprocated through the medium of said push rod to shift the drivepinion into selective engagement with said rack bars, and whenoscillated to its reverse position in engagement with said combinedanchor bolt and latch pin functioning to disconnect said slides and atthe same time move the slide which is connected to said latch plate intoa position which will bring the drive pinion into neutral and hold thepinion in such position.

6. In drive mechanism for voting and like machines, means for shifting amovably mounted drive pinion into and out of operative engagement withspaced rack bars, comprising: a reciprocable guide plate having anoperative connection with said pinion, a reciprocable slide having anoperative resilient connection with said guide plate, a second slidedisposed adjacent to and parallel with said first-named slide and havinga manually operable push rod connected thereto, and a latch memberpivotally connected to one of said slides and functioning whenoscillated into one of its latching positions to connect said slides toone another to move in unison whereby the guide plates may be manuallyreciprocated through the medium of said push rod to push the drivepinion into selective driving engagement with said rack bars and whenoscillated to its opposite latching position functioning to disconnectsaid slides and at the same time shift the drive plate into a positionwhich will bring the drive pinion into neutral.

ARTHUR F. FOEHRENBACH. RANSOM F. SHOUP.

CHAS. M. BOURQUIN. SAMUEL R. SHOUP.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2 056, 780. October 6, 1936.

ARTHUR F. FOEHRENBACH, ET AL,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 2,claim 3, for the word pin read. pinion; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th clay of December, A. D. 1956,

printed specification of Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner ofPatents,

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2 056, 780. October 6, l93

ARTHUR F. FOEHRENBACH, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationoi the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,first column, line 2, claim 3, for the word "pin" read pinion; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same m conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of December, A. D. 1956,

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patenwe

